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| Last-minute Christmas shoppers warned about fake must-have toys | Last-minute Christmas shoppers warned about fake must-have toys |
| (25 days later) | |
| Consumers should look out for CE mark and be wary of online sellers offering next-day delivery of toys sold out elsewhere | |
| Rebecca Smithers Consumer affairs correspondent | |
| Fri 22 Dec 2017 06.01 GMT | |
| Last modified on Fri 22 Dec 2017 06.03 GMT | |
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| Last-minute Christmas shoppers desperate for this year’s must-have toys are being warned to look out for tell-tale signs of fake and potentially dangerous products as rogue online traders cash in on a surge in demand for sold-out items. | Last-minute Christmas shoppers desperate for this year’s must-have toys are being warned to look out for tell-tale signs of fake and potentially dangerous products as rogue online traders cash in on a surge in demand for sold-out items. |
| Councils are also urging consumers to be wary of turning to suspect online sellers offering next-day delivery to secure toys that are out of stock elsewhere because they could be left out of pocket if the toys do not exist. | Councils are also urging consumers to be wary of turning to suspect online sellers offering next-day delivery to secure toys that are out of stock elsewhere because they could be left out of pocket if the toys do not exist. |
| In the final countdown to Christmas, councils have seized thousands of counterfeit and dangerous toys, including many that contained parts that pose a choking hazard to children. Thurrock council seized 86% of all products tested – a total of 88,000 items, many of which were toys – which arrived at ports between July and September. | In the final countdown to Christmas, councils have seized thousands of counterfeit and dangerous toys, including many that contained parts that pose a choking hazard to children. Thurrock council seized 86% of all products tested – a total of 88,000 items, many of which were toys – which arrived at ports between July and September. |
| The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, said criminals were exploiting a spike in demand for must-have toys, with someappearing online at more than six times their recommended retail price. | The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, said criminals were exploiting a spike in demand for must-have toys, with someappearing online at more than six times their recommended retail price. |
| It warned parents desperate to buy the most popular toys, such as Fingerlings and Hatchimals, to avoid buying them at suspiciously low prices or from suspect websites as these may be run by fraudsters. | It warned parents desperate to buy the most popular toys, such as Fingerlings and Hatchimals, to avoid buying them at suspiciously low prices or from suspect websites as these may be run by fraudsters. |
| The LGA urged shoppers to look for the CE mark on toys or packaging, which confirms they meet EU consumer safety standards. With people increasingly buying presents online, the LGA called for the CE mark to be clearly included in the information on websites that offered toys for sale. | The LGA urged shoppers to look for the CE mark on toys or packaging, which confirms they meet EU consumer safety standards. With people increasingly buying presents online, the LGA called for the CE mark to be clearly included in the information on websites that offered toys for sale. |
| “Christmas can be a great time for bargains but it can also be a magnet for dodgy traders and criminals who won’t think twice about making easy money from selling dangerous toys to unsuspecting shoppers,” said Simon Blackburn, who chairs LGA’s safer and stronger communities board. “Faulty electrical toys can lead to fires or electrocution, inferior materials can break and cause injuries, while toxic levels of ingredients can cause burns, illness and even prove fatal.” | “Christmas can be a great time for bargains but it can also be a magnet for dodgy traders and criminals who won’t think twice about making easy money from selling dangerous toys to unsuspecting shoppers,” said Simon Blackburn, who chairs LGA’s safer and stronger communities board. “Faulty electrical toys can lead to fires or electrocution, inferior materials can break and cause injuries, while toxic levels of ingredients can cause burns, illness and even prove fatal.” |
| Shoppers are also being urged to look out for grammar and spelling errors on packaging, tell-tale signs of counterfeit goods, and to be wary of cheap offers involving toys sold out elsewhere. | Shoppers are also being urged to look out for grammar and spelling errors on packaging, tell-tale signs of counterfeit goods, and to be wary of cheap offers involving toys sold out elsewhere. |
| “Selling illegal, fake toys is a crime and ruins the reputation of genuine traders, harms legitimate businesses, costs the economy millions in lost tax revenue and often funds organised criminal gangs,” said Blackburn. | “Selling illegal, fake toys is a crime and ruins the reputation of genuine traders, harms legitimate businesses, costs the economy millions in lost tax revenue and often funds organised criminal gangs,” said Blackburn. |
| The British Toy and Hobby Association, representing legitimate traders, said criminals were making an estimated £400m a year from counterfeit toys. It called for a new agreement with China to jointly identify and stop these dangerous products. | The British Toy and Hobby Association, representing legitimate traders, said criminals were making an estimated £400m a year from counterfeit toys. It called for a new agreement with China to jointly identify and stop these dangerous products. |
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